Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 16: The Supreme Court is set to continue its hearing on Monday regarding the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, a case it had taken up suo moto.

According to the apex court’s causelist, a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar will proceed with the hearing on March 17.

During the last session, the CJI-led Bench issued directives to hospitals and medical institutions nationwide, instructing them not to penalize doctors and medical professionals who had participated in protests over the shocking crime but later returned to duty in response to the Supreme Court’s appeal.

In August last year, while addressing the suo moto case titled ‘Alleged Rape and Murder Incident of a Trainee Doctor in R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, and Related Issues,’ the Supreme Court urged the medical fraternity to resume work promptly. It also assured them that their protest participation would not lead to any adverse repercussions.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to file a supplementary charge sheet this month at a special court in Kolkata, shedding light on potential evidence tampering in the case. The central agency aims to submit the charge sheet before the Supreme Court’s next scheduled hearing.

Back in October, the CBI filed its first charge sheet against Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, implicating him in the heinous crime. The investigation did not dismiss the possibility of a larger conspiracy and pointed to evidence tampering in the early stages of the probe conducted by Kolkata Police.

In addition to Roy, the CBI arrested Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of R.G. Kar Medical College, and Abhijit Mondal, the former Station House Officer (SHO) of Tala Police Station. Both were charged with misleading the initial investigation before the case was transferred to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.

The special court found Roy guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment, rejecting the CBI’s plea for the death penalty. Additionally, the court imposed a fine of ?50,000 on him. It also directed the West Bengal government to provide ?17 lakh in compensation to the victim’s family, citing the state’s responsibility in ensuring workplace safety for medical professionals.

The framing of charges in the case was completed on November 4, 2024, exactly 87 days after the young doctor’s body was discovered in a seminar hall on the hospital premises on August 9.

Expressing grave concern over the incident, the Supreme Court termed it “horrific” and highlighted the broader issue of ensuring workplace security for medical professionals across India.

“This case underscores the urgent need to establish a safer working environment for doctors, particularly in public hospitals,” the Bench observed.
In response, the Supreme Court mandated the formation of a National Task Force to recommend security measures for medical professionals, affirming that the safety of doctors is a matter of “highest national concern.”